The Osceola times., 1887-06-04
CONSTRUCTION OF WELLS.
A Me,hod which Commends itseh u
Farmers for Various Reasons.

Farmers Tor tafious
Attention has often been called to the
Importance of pure water for drinking
and other purposes by our scientihe
Sriends who warn us Of the dire ELECTS
of impure water. Water is often I'M
pure when its impurity is not mistrust-
ed. Impurity is mainly caused py
drainage. A well acts as drain IN
proportion to its depth. We know that
the deeper the ditch the greater width
II will drain. When a ditch is cut IN
peaty soil water oozes into the ditch
from top TO bottom. Unless it rains the
water ceases to come in at the top oi
the ditch. and this cessation continues
down as the water is exhausted. III q
ditch three feet deep drains the soil
from two rods on either side, wei
twenty feet deep would drain impuri-
ties from much greater distance. lhe
water drained from a great distance
would be well filtered, while that from
near the well would be more impure.
Typhoid fever and other kindred dis
eases have been spread by the drain
ace into wells. Four years ago l was
visiting in heavily-timbered country
with slightly rolling clay land Cellars
could not be used unless sufficient
elevation could be had to allowed OF
drainage. The roots in the ground con-
Quoted the surface water into cellars,
also into the wells to such an extent
that the water tasted badly. Stones
suitable for walling could not be had in
the vicinity.
The following plan was adopted upon
my advice. A shaft five feet square
was sunk to depth of six feet. In
this cub was placed so as to leave
six inches between the curb and the
walls. This intervening space was
filled with small stones and water-lime
cement. This cement wall was then
plastered with water-lime. In the bot
tom of this square shaft a round well
a little more than three feet in diane
ter, was begun, and as it was sunk, two
coats of the water-lime cement wer'
put on tie walls. Care was used Il
make the joining between the square
and round parts of the wall water
tight with cement At twenty fee
deep sand was reached, and our well
digger said: THE game is up" Ill
found, however, that he could dig on
foot and cement it, instead OF taking
four feet at one time. The well wa
continued until water was reached a
forty feet. in quicksand. A tub fou
feet in depth was sunk. and cemen
connection made with its top to the &c
ment wall. Plenty of good water ha
been supplied ever since.
"Tho frost would break the walls,
It was said, as wells twenty feet dee
had been known to freeze over in tn
vicinity. Two layers of two-inch plan
were put over the top, and a goo
three-inch cylinder iron pump with on
and one-fouIth inch gas pipe for tubin
was put in the well. A late examin'
ton showed no failure wha tever in tn
Cement or in any part of the work. Th
great care taken to prevent the effect
of frost is not needed further south, q
where the well is in building. Wher
there is less danger of frosts the CO
menting on the sides Of the well can b
commenced nearer the surface. Gil
cular brick or stones can be used il
stead of the grout where they can b
procured. Common sense teaches u
that a well constructed in this manno
must remain free from surroundin
impurities if twenty or more feet deef
Such wells would prove of great valu
to all who get their water from well:
Particularly in villages, and wher
wells are near stables, is this pla
worthy of adoption. 1t commend
itself, not only for its intrinsic valu
and purity of water, but also fc
economy of construction.-F. c. Gu
tis, in Prairie Fdrmer.